Checklist for Infant Observation in a Preschool Setting

Use these examples to create your own checklist for developmental infant observation and documentation.

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Points For Your Rubric

Creating a rubric, or checklist, for infant preschool observation can be a daunting task. The following is an example of a checklist that can be used in an infant classroom setting. When creating checklists for infant observation, keep in mind that each infant develops individually at his own pace. No two infants will reach the same milestones at the same time, so you need to consider this more of a guide than a rule book.

MOTOR SKILLS and EXPECTED AGE

Rolls from side to side 4-7 months

Rolls from tummy to back 4-7 months

Rolls from back to tummy 4-7 months

Sits up with support 4-7 months

Scoots on tummy or bottom 4-7 months

Sits without support 4-7 months

Transfers objects hand to hand 4-7 months

Uses raking grasp 4-7 months

Assumes hand/knee position 4-7 months

Attempts crawling 4-7 months

Creeps or crawls efficiently 8-12 months

Changes positions easily 8-12 months

Pulls to stand 8-12 months

Takes assisted steps 8-12 months

Can finger feed self 8-12 months

Stands without support 8-12 months

Walks 2-3 steps w/o support 8-12 months

COGNITIVE SKILLS and EXPECTED AGE

Looks for partially hidden items 4-7 months

Explores with hands and mouth 4-7 months

Shows preference for specific foods 4-7 months

Exhibits feelings regarding change 4-7 months

Struggles to get objects out of reach 4-7 months

Uses toys in many different ways 4-7 months

Drops toys and waits for them to be retrieved 4-7 months

Responds to own name 8-12 months

Repeats tasks many times 8-12 months

Finds hidden objects easily 8-12 months

Can efficiently feed self 8-12 months

Begins to use objects correctly 8-12 months

LANGUAGE SKILLS and EXPECTED AGE

Responds to “no" 4-7 months

Responds to sound with sound 4-7 months

Babbles chains of consonants 4-7 months

Babbles and waits for response 4-7 months

Communicates through gestures and facial expressions 8-12 months

Responds to verbal requests 8-12 months

Uses simple gestures (i.e. head shaking for “no") 8-12 months

Babbles with inflection 8-12 months

Uses exclamations (i.e. “uh oh!) 8-12 months

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SKILLS and EXPECTED AGE

Enjoys social play 4-7 months

Recognizes familiar faces 4-7 months

Shows interest in mirror images 4-7 months

Appears joyful often 4-7 months

Laughs out loud 4-7 months

Seems to understand cause and effect 8-12 months

Cries when familiar adults leave the room 8-12 months

Protests sleeping 8-12 months

Shy or anxious with strangers 8-12 months

Imitates gestures 8-12 months

Extends arm or leg to help when dressing 8-12 months

In addition to this checklist, it would also be wise to include space in your observation for anecdotal notes and comments. For example, in the Language Development section, after writing down the date that the infant began to respond to verbal requests, a teacher could write: "Today when Ms. Kelly read a book to Ryan, he laughed and pointed each time he saw the elephant," followed by the date of the observation and the age of the child (in months) at the time of the observation.

Creating a rubric for infant preschool observation that works with your classroom can take some effort. Once the basic checklist has been approved, however, it is an extremely handy tool for infant observation and documentation.